[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 17 (Thursday, January 28, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E75]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





        CELEBRATING THE LIFE AND PUBLIC SERVICE OF BOOTSIE NEAL

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL R. TURNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 28, 2021

  Mr. TURNER. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life of 
Bootsie Neal, a remarkable woman and public servant from my hometown of 
Dayton, Ohio, who passed away on January 24, 2021.
  Bootsie Neal was one of my dearest friends for over 25 years. Bootsie 
was born on September 9, 1952 in Newbern, Alabama and grew up in 
Buffalo, New York. She earned her bachelor's degree from Howard 
University in Washington, D.C. She moved to Dayton in 1974, where she 
spent the rest of her life, and earned a master's degree in 
postgraduate education at the University of Dayton.
  In 1991, Bootsie became the first African American woman to be 
elected to the Dayton City Commission, on which she served until 2004. 
Later in life, she inspired and became a role model for other women 
committed to public service and looking to run for office.
  I had the privilege of working with Bootsie while I was Mayor of 
Dayton. Together, we worked to turn the city around. We shared a mutual 
interest in urban revitalization and redevelopment. We implemented a 
comprehensive strategic plan that laid the foundation for the economic 
revival of the urban core of our region. Our focus was rebuilding the 
business district with jobs, housing, and amenities, and restoring and 
revitalizing our neighborhoods.
  Without Bootsie's leadership and partnership, we would not have 
balanced the city's budget for eight consecutive years, built the 
Dayton Dragons baseball stadium, the Schuster Center, and RiverScape 
MetroPark, All of these projects helped contribute to the 
revitalization and improvement of our city. Today, there are more 
people living, working, and enjoying downtown Dayton than there were 
twenty years ago.
  Bootsie will be deeply missed by all of us who knew and loved her. I 
valued her wisdom and treasured her friendship. Bootsie's legacy of 
service through her sorority Delta Sigma Theta, as well as to the 
entire Dayton community, will forever be cherished. On behalf of all 
those whose lives were touched by Bootsie's friendship and community 
service, I offer her family and friends my heartfelt condolences.

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